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Pemberton booked, but no arraignment yet


(Updated 1:10 p.m.) Murder suspect Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton underwent booking procedures Friday but his arraignment for the killing of Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey "Jennifer" Laude did not push through as the US Marine's camp filed a motion to suspend proceedings before the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court.

In a report on GMA News TV's News To Go, lawyer Virgie Suarez, the Laude family's legal counsel, said the court has yet to decide on the motion.

The report said the Olongapo RTC is set to hear Pemberton's motion to suspend proceedings on December 22.
 
However, Pemberton has undergone a booking process on Friday, the report said.

The booking process included a medical examination, and taking his fingerprints and mugshot.

In handcuffs?

A Reuters report said Pemberton appeared in court in handcuffs, wearing a suit and striped tie.

He sat quietly, flanked by US security officers, as his lawyers asked the court to suspend proceedings, the same Reuters report said.

Laude's sister, Marilou, had mixed emotions on seeing Pemberton for the first time. "I wanted to ask him why he killed my brother," she told Reuters. "I wanted to bang his head against the wall. I wanted to be angry, but I am also afraid."

In a separate News To Go report, RTC Branch 74 Clerk of Court Atty. Gerry Gruspe said a commitment order has been issued for Pemberton to remain detained at a US facility in Camp Aquinaldo.

Suarez said they will ask the court to transfer Pemberton to a regular detention cell.

A Reuters report quoted Suarez as saying: "There was an appeal to reverse the prosecutors' resolution to charge Pemberton with murder for the death of Jeffrey Laude.
 
"There was no arraignment today, but the court now has jurisdiction over Pemberton. We are not aware of his appeal. We will oppose it. He should be detained in a local facility."
 
Security was tight at the Olongapo City RTC on Friday morning. Media was not allowed inside the courtroom during the supposed arraignment.


 
Pemberton is a suspect in the killing of Laude, who was found dead in a lodge in Olongapo City on the night of October 11. He was last seen with the victim.
 
On Monday, the Olongapo City Prosecutor's Office confirmed to have found probable cause to file a murder case against Pemberton
 
The case was raffled off and went to the sala of Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde of the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court Branch 74.
 
On Thursday, representatives from the US Naval Forces led by Commander Timothy Stone inspected the Olongapo RTC courtroom where Pemberton is to be presented for arraignment.
 
A representative from the US Naval Criminal Investigative Service also arrived Thursday afternoon but declined to give a statement.

Olongapo City police had adopted security measures at the courtroom.
 
 
For its part, the US issued a statement saying it will cooperate with the Philippine government to make sure justice prevails. — Amanda Fernandez with Reuters/RSJ/KG, GMA News

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